Amritsar: Former deputy chief minister of India’s Punjab state and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal narrowly avoided injury on Wednesday when a gunman opened fire at him outside the Golden Temple. Badal, who was performing ‘seva’ at the temple, was not harmed in the incident.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the attack was recorded on video and showed Narayan Singh Chaura, the alleged assailant, drawing a pistol and firing at Badal, who was on a wheelchair. The bullet struck a wall behind Badal, leaving him unscathed. The shooter was quickly subdued by bystanders and security personnel present at the location.
Badal was serving as a ‘sevadar’ (volunteer) at the temple after undertaking a religious penance. In response to the incident, SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema expressed relief for Badal’s safety and criticized the state government for what he described as a security lapse, suggesting it might be part of a broader conspiracy.